We have so much depth at linebacker it's ridiculous. DJ is a great LB, but we need to go WR.

I disagree, we should never draft for need in the first couple of rounds. The last few times we drafted a WR in the first round because we needed one, we ended with Desmond Howard (crap) and Michael Westbrook (bad knee).
For those of you who do not know who Derrick Johnson is, he is 6'-4" 230 pound monster of a LB. An aggressive, speedy and explosive linebacker, some of his combine numbers were tops ever measured for a LB. I think his shuttle run time is the fastest...
He earned the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nationís top defensive player and the Butkus Award (nationís top LB) ... was a finalist for the Bednarik Award (nationís top defensive player), the Lombardi Award (nationís top lineman) and the Lott Trophy (defensive player of the year) in 2004 Ö was the only defensive player among the 10 finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
Getting FS Sean Taylor last year and if we could get Dj this year, our defense would be great. You can get a WR anywhere. They are always cap casualties.

I wouldn't say we were that deep at LB. We have Lavar, Barrow (still hurt), Washington, Marshall, Clemons (pass rusher) then who...? So, right now it's Lavar, Washington and Marshall and not much depth behind that. If a top tier receiver is not available at 9 then why not go for the best athlete that can help the team? Edwards and Williams are going to be gone by the 9th pick. Do we want another Rod Gardner (average WR picked in the first round) or do we pick the strongest player and then pickup another average WR in the 2nd?

i'd like to see the skins match justs to keep him from the gints... the contract sounds like its extremely backloaded, and the bonus is small, so we could eep him for 2-3 at a fairly cheap rate and then make a call. Pierce's main strength is his intelligence, so its hard for me to see him as struggling in anyone's defense (though the gints D will still probably suck, he most definately will NOT be the reason).

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I wouldn't say we were that deep at LB. We have Lavar, Barrow (still hurt), Washington, Marshall, Clemons (pass rusher) then who...? So, right now it's Lavar, Washington and Marshall and not much depth behind that.

I hear what you're saying but at this time last year how many people would have truthfully talked about Marshall and Clemons when talking about our LB depth? So maybe now someone like Brandon Barnes or Khary Campbell will step up.

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I hear what you're saying but at this time last year how many people would have truthfully talked about Marshall and Clemons when talking about our LB depth? So maybe now someone like Brandon Barnes or Khary Campbell will step up.

...or Clifton Smith, who has been mentioned a few times as an up and coming player that the coaches like...and he's more of a natural MLB.

I have to say that I am dissappointed they let him get away, but not worried....I'm sure Williams is in Gibbs' ear as far as defensive players go, and if he felt that Pierce was really that vital to our success, they would have done what was needed to keep him.

The name I keep hearing is Clifton Smith. A lot of people really think this guy can play, based mostly on his success in college, but apparently he was a real stud. He may become Antonio Pierce Part 2 next year as the guy who kind of emerges from the shadows to play great. I kind of doubt it, however, since Pierce's success stemmed mostly from the fact that he is so smart, not from his physical prowess. But I hold out hope.

This is basically three guys (Coles,Smoot,Pierce) who seemed to be "true" Redskins that are up and running. Two are for money and one because of...well who the hell really knows. I don't begrudge Smoot and Coles for capitalizing on their chance to cash in but I am sick and tired of guys talking about how "they want to be in DC" and how "it will be hard to leave" when it is obvious that they don't really care where they play as long as they get paid. Pisses me off that these chumps can't just be honest and say "I'll play where they pay me". As for Coles...whatever.